Loose-leaf book or ledger.



PATENTED JUNE 20, 1905.

He O. MILLER" LOOSE LEAF BOOK OR LBDGER.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 13,1903.

UNITED STATES Patented June 20, 1905.

PATENT ()EEICE.

LOOSE-LEAF BOOK OR LEDGER.

SIECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 792,664, dated. June 20, 1905.

Application filed November 13, 1903. Serial No. 180,993.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HENRY C. MILLER, residing at Milwaukee, in the county of Milwaukee and State of Wisconsin, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Loose-Leaf Books or Ledgers, of which the following is a description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which are a part of this specification.

My invention has relation to improvements in loose-leaf books or ledgers.

It relates to that class of loose-leaf books or ledgers wherein curved impaling-pins are employed.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a construction whereby a break is prevented in the complete are formed by the pin members, even when the back-sections are turned to their maximum adjustment outwardly, whereby the leaves are securely held in place during the time the book is in use, provision also being made for the breaking of the complete arc formed by the pins when the cover-sections are turned to their maximum outward adjustment, so as to, provide a space between the ends of the impaling-pins sufficient to permit of the insertion of leaves therein.

Afurther object of the invention resides in the provision of improved means,.in connection with a hinged book, for locking the impaling-pins either at their closest adjustment together or their adjustments at any points between said closest adjustment together or their farthest adjustment apart.

With the above primary and other incidental objects in view the invention consists of the devices and parts or their equivalents, as hereinafter set forth.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is an end view of a loose-leaf book embodying my improvements. Fig. 2 is a cross-section on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section of the book with the covers opened to their full extent and the plates or strips carrying the impaling-pins at their maximum outward adjustment. Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section of a form of construction showing the covers open and the strips carrying the curved impaling-pins ad usted away from each other to their full extent, the construction involving the employment of half-rounded curved impaling-pins having fiat inner sides adapted to slidably engage each other instead of the curved telescoping pins shown in the preceding figures of the drawings, the view also illustrating the additional feature of a curved removable tube adapted for connecting the separated ends of the pin members, and thereby preserving the complete arc, notwithstanding the maximum adjustment outwardly of the plates or strips carrying the pins; and Fig. 5 is a plan view of a fragment of Fig. 4.

Referring to the drawings, the numerals6 6 indicate the main cover-pieces, and 7 7 the rear narrow portions of the cover, united to the main cover-pieces by flexible joints 8 8, as usual in this class of devices.

The back of the book consists of two hinged sections 9 9, preferably of metal and hinged together at their meeting edges by means of a hinge-pin 10 passing through alternating eyes 11, formed at said meeting edges of the respective back-sections. The rear portions 7 7 of the cover are continued around and cover the hinged back-sections,as most clearly shown in Figs. 1, 3, and 4.

In the Figs. 1 to 3 form of construction the impaling pins are made up of telescoping members, one member 12 of each set of pins being tubular. These are shown as projecting'from the inner side of one of the rear pieces 7, and the other member 13 of each set of pins is shown as projecting from the opposite rear piece 7 and so located that when the pieces7 are brought together the members 13 will pass and telescope into the tubular members 12. Of course where the rear pieces 7 are sufficiently stiff and rigid the impalingpins may be secured to and extend directly therefrom; but I prefer to provide the hinged back-sections 9 with extension-flanges 14 14, which lie adjacent and are secured to the inner sides of the rear pieces 7, and the curved impaling-pins are extended directly from these extension-flanges. In the drawings I have shown all the tubular curved members of the pin-sections projecting from one of the flanges 14 and the cooperating'members which enter the tubular members as projecting from the opposite flange 14. Of course this arrangement could be reversed, or some of the tubular members could project from one flange 14 and others from the opposite flange, and the members 13 could be similarly alternately disposed, and the successful operation of the device would not be thereby affected.

In the use of the invention as thus far explained the cover-pieces 6 areppened out, as indicated in Fig. 3, and the rear pieces 7 brought to the maximum outward adjustment, as also shown in Fig. 3. This separates the inner ends of the members of the impalingpins and affords suflicient space for the entrance of the loose leaves 15 and the impaling thereof onto the pin members, said leaves being provided with openings, as is usual in this class of devices, for the reception of the pins. The cover sections of the book are now brought together, and this will cause the pin ever it is desired to remove a leaf or leaves,

all that is necessary to be done is to again open the book to the position shown in Fig. 3,when, of course, the leaves may be withdrawn from the pin-sections.

By employing the hinged back in connection with the curved and telescoping impaling-pins a construction is provided whereby provision is made for regulating the capacity of the bookthat is to say, either a small number of leaves may be securely retained between the coverpieces or quite a large number of leaves may be so accommodated, and at the same time the curved and telescoping-pins provide a continuous are for securely retaining the leaves to almost the limit of the maximum capacity of the book. When the pin members 13 are telescoped into the curved tubular members 12 to the full eXtent,of course only a certain quantity of leaves can be accommodated. If additional leaves are inserted, the rear sections 7 of the cover will of course be thrown outwardly at inclines, as shown -in Fig. 3. Under any adjustment, therefore, it is desirable that the rear pieces 7 and the impaling-pins carried thereby should be locked at such adjustments. To provide for this, I employ at opposite ends of the opposite flanges 14 or the rear cover-sections 7 when said flanges are not employed inwardly extending and adjacent plates, the outer plate at each end being indicated by the numeral 16 and the inner plate by the numeral 17. The upper edge of each outer plate is curved on the arc of a circle, and the upper edge of each inner plate may be similarly curved, if desired. The curved upper edge of each outer plate is provided with a series of teeth 18. The outer face of each inner plate above the curved toothed edge of said inner plate carries a dog 19. For conveniently turning or throwing each dog the same is provided with a projecting handle 20. A spring-arm 21- is secured to each inner plate in such position that the free end of each spring will bear against the'dog relating thereto. When the dog is turned upwardly out of engagement with the teeth 18, the spring bears against the upper edge of the dog in such manner as to retain the dog in its upwardly-adjusted position. When the dog is thrown down into engagement with the teeth 18, however, the free end of the spring-arm bears against an eccentric point 22 of the dog, and thereby serves to hold thedog in locked engagement with the teeth. When the parts are in the position illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 and the dogs are in engagement with the teeth 18, the hinged back is held locked against any movement on the hinge-pin, and consequently the parts are at their minim-um adjustment. If it is desired to turn the back-sections on the hinge-pin, so as to increase the capacity of the book, it is necessary to turn said backsections to such an extent that the ends of the curved impaling-pins are separated in order to permit additional leaves to be threaded over the ends of said pins. To accomplish this, the dogs are lifted out of engagement with the teeth 18 and the covers turned to a fully-opened position. After the additional leaves are inserted the dogs are again thrown down into engagement with the teeth and the cover-sections brought together, so as to lie close to the leaves, and in this movement the dogs slip freely by the teeth, and after the cover-sections have been brought together to the full extent the dogs automatically fall into the spaces back of the last teeth passed over by the said dogs, and thus automatically lock the cover-sections in their adjusted closed position.

In Figs. 4 and 5 of the drawings instead I show two solid and preferably half-round members so secured to the opposite flanges 14 that when said flanges are brought toward each other the flat inner sides of said pin members will bear against and effect a sliding engagement with each other. These forms of pin members are designated in Figs. 4 and 5'by the numerals 23 23. I also show in connection with Figs. 4 and .5 an additional device, consisting of a short curved tube 24, which is loosely and removably fitted over the ends of the pin members 23 and serves the purpose of preventing a break in thecomplete are formed by the pin members even when the back-sections are turned to their maximum adjustment outwardly. When this short curved tube is employed and it is desired to insert additional leaves, all that is necessary to be done is to slide the same downwardly on one pin member and then upwardly for removal from said pin member. After the leaves are impaled upon the pins the short curved tube may be readily readjusted to place. It is obvious that this short tube is not necessarily limited in its use to the form of construction illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5, but may be employed with equal advantage in connection with the construction shown in Figs. 1 to 3, inclusive.

While I have shown in the accompanying drawings a specific form of locking means for locking the impaling-pin sections at any desired adjustment between the minimum and maximum and automatically effect the locking when the cover-pieces are brought together to the desired extent, yet I do not wish to be understood as restricting myself to this specific form, as various other locking devices may be employed to efliect the same function without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention. I

hat I claim as my invention is 1. In a loose-leaf book, the combination of cover-pieces having rear portions flexibly connected thereto, outwardly bowed or arched impaling-pins projecting from the inner sides of the rear portions of the cover-pieces, and locking mechanism adapted, when operated so as to be thrown out of locking position, to permit the cover-pieces to be turned outwardly away from each other, and, when operated in the opposite direction, to permit the cover-pieces to be brought together and to automatically effect the locking of said cover-pieces, after being brought together to the desired extent.

2. Ina loose-leaf book, the combination of cover-pieces having rear portions flexibly connected thereto, impaling-pins projecting from the inner sides of the rear portions of the coverpieces, and consisting of outwardly bowed or arched members so connected to and projecting from the rear portions of the cover-pieces that upon the movement of said rear portions toward or away from each other, the pin members will slidingly engage each other, and locking mechanism adapted, when operated so as to be thrown out of locking position, to permit the cover pieces to be turned outwardly away from each other, and, when operated in the opposite direction, to permit the cover-pieces to be brought together and to automatically effect the locking of said cover-pieces, after being brought together to the desired extent.

3. In a loose-leaf book, the combination of cover-pieces having rear portions flexibly connected thereto, outwardly bowed or arched impaling-pins projecting from the inner sides of the rear portions of the cover-pieces, plates extending inwardly from opposite ends of one of the rear portions, and locking devices carried at opposite ends of the other rear portion and adapted to efl ect a locking engagement with the plates, said locking mechanism adapted, when operated so as to be thrown out of locking position, to permit the coverpieces to be turned outwardly away from each other, and, when operated in the opposite direction, to permit the cover-pieces to be brought together and to automatically effeet the locking of said cover-pieces, after being brought together to the desired extent.

4:. In a loose-leaf book, the combination of cover-pieces having rear portions flexibly connected thereto, outwardly bowed or arched impaling-pins projecting from the inner sides of the rear portions of the cover-pieces, plates projecting inwardly from opposite ends of the rear-portions and overlapping each other, one of the plates of each set having a curved toothed upper edge, and the other plate carrying a dog adapted to be thrown into and out of engagement with the teeth of the other plate, whereby the rear portions of the cover-pieces are adapted to be locked at their closest adjustment toward each other, or at different adjustments outwardly away from each other, the looking at the closest adjustment toward each other being effected automatically.

5. In a loose-leaf book, the combination of cover-pieces having rear portions flexibly connected thereto, outwardly bowed or arched impaling-pins projecting from the inner sides of the rear portions of the cover-pieces, plates projecting inwardly from opposite ends of the rear portions and overlapping each other, one of the plates of each set having a curved toothed upper edge, and the other plate carrying a dog adapted to be thrown into and out of engagement with the teeth of the first-mentioned plate, whereby the rear portions of the coverpieces are adapted to be locked at their closest adjustment toward each other, or at different adjustments outwardly away from each other the locking at the closest adjustment toward each other being eflected automatically, and a spring-arm carried by each dog-carrying plate, and adapted at its free end to bear on the dog, the said dog being provided with a cam edge against which the spring-arm bears, the said cam edge being so constructed that, when the dog is lifted out of engagement with the teeth, it is held in such position, and when the dog is thrown into engagement with the teeth it is held in such engagement.

6. A frame for the back of a loose-leaf book consisting of back members connected together at their meeting edges by an inwardlyopening hinge-joint, the said back members constituting the frame of theback of the book, and provided with flanges extending at angles thereto the said flanges having impaling-pins projecting from the inner sides thereof, said pins consisting of outwardly bowed or arched members so connected to and projecting from the flanges that upon the movement of said flanges toward or away from each other the pin members will slidingly engage each other, and cooperating locking mechanism carried by extensions projecting at angles from the flanges, and adapted to lock the flanges at their closest adjustment toward each other, or at different adjustments outwardly away from each IIS other, the locking at the closest adjustment toward each other being efiected automatically.

7. In a loose-leaf book, the combination of co ver-pieces having rear portions flexibly connected thereto, of impaling-pins projecting from the inner sides of the rear portions of the cover pieces, and consisting of outwardly bowed or arched members so connected to and projecting from the rear portions of the coverpieces that upon the movement of said rear portions toward or away from each other the pin members will slidingly engage each other, and an outwardly bowed or arched sleeve removably fitted over the ends of the pin -members. I:

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

HENRY c. MILLER.

Witnesses:

ANNA F. SCHMIDTBAUER, A. L. MORSELL. 

